Man charged with murder in Sandusky (with 911 audio)

SANDUSKY -- A 34-year-old man is charged with murder for beating to death another man, according to Sandusky police and the Erie County Prosecutor's Office.

Tommy Reogas was charged yesterday with aggravated murder for his role in the death of John Debski, 50, who was found dead in his Wilbert Street home on Saturday, according to Sandusky police.

Another man, Gary Ballard, 40, also was charged with obstructing justice in the case, according to police. Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter authorized the charges on Wednesday.

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The investigation began about 9:30 a.m. Saturday when Ballard called 911 to ask for a squad for a man with no pulse, said Sandusky police Lt. John Orzech.

Officers found Debski lying on a fold-out sleeper sofa in a bedroom at the house, Orzech said.

"There was a pool of blood," he said. "There were some things at the crime scene that didn't look like a natural death-type situation."

The Lucas County Coroner's Office performed an autopsy Monday and ruled Debski's death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma injuries to the head, Orzech said.

Police returned to the Wilbert Street home and found an object believed to be the murder weapon atop a detached garage, Orzech said.

Police were not releasing details about the murder weapon or a possible motive because detectives still are interviewing possible witnesses in the case, Orzech said.

"There was an issue between Debski and Reogas," he said.

Additional charges are possible because the case likely will be considered by the Erie County grand jury, Orzech said.

Debski, Ballard and Reogas apparently all knew each other from staying at the home, Orzech said.

Ballard was charged because he knew Reogas was hiding in the garage while police were investigating Saturday, Orzech said.

Reogas was wanted on warrants for other unrelated offenses, Orzech said.

Later Saturday, someone spotted Reogas at the home and called police, Orzech said. Officers returned and found Reogas hiding in a shower, he said.

Reogas and Ballard are being held at the Erie County jail.

Reogas is being held without bond pending a court appearance on the murder charge. He also is being held on $86,700 bond for a dozen other unrelated charges including felonious assault, kidnaping, domestic violence and aggravated menacing, according to records from Sandusky Municipal Court and the Erie County Jail.